Water Polo in the Mission Valley Athletic League (MVAL) has always been very interesting. For many years Washington High School girls and boys have dominated the league. The Washington girls have been honored with the MVAL championship crown every year since 1999 while the boys team seems to almost equally as dominant.

This year the quest for a league title is wide open. Mission San Jose has been having an excellent year with an 8-1 record league record. The MSJ Warriors have made waves this season by beating some top teams in the North Coast Section. Newark Memorial and traditional powerhouse Washington are in second place at 7-2. Each of the squads is one game back of Mission San Jose in the league standings.

The boys teams are just as equal in making ripples in the water this season as their female counterparts.

Irvington has proven to be the best boys team in the MVAL thus far at 7-2. The rest of the MVAL is quite a surprise. Washington is in second place; Misson San Jose is right behind them; and an upstart team from James Logan is in fourth place at 2-7 and 6-12 overall. Last year the Colts of James Logan only won one game.

This year the Colts are dramatically improving and getting better with each game. First year Coach Lance Green is very excited how his team's performance saying, "Our goal is to get better and learn the fundamentals of the game."

In last week's play the Logan boys beat Newark Memorial. In the match Juan Zanfra, Glenn Gillen, Casey Clark and Sean Razavi each scored goals to beat the Cougars.

This Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30 and 31, the Colts host the Shaughessy MVAL Water Polo Championships. The winner of the tournament receives an automatic bid to the North Coast playoffs while others hope for an at-large bid. The first round of the playoffs will be held at the Contra Costa College or Miramonte High School.